Federal Outreach
A ‘One Community’ Agenda
Pursuing Partnership and Innovation in Today’s Defense Community
Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin has said that the cornerstone of the new National Defense Strategy will be integrated deterrence, with innovation and partnership as two key concepts.
As DOD and Congress implement this new strategy, it is essential that we strengthen the foundation of our military – the places where our military trains, deploys from, and calls home: our installations and defense communities.
It is here that we must begin to institutionalize the concepts of innovation and partnership. When communities and the military are working as one, we make a difference, we find new solutions, we strengthen networks, and we build great places for our servicemembers and their families to call home.
The Association of Defense Communities believes a “One Community” approach will foster a new level of military-community collaboration to tackle the major issues facing our nation and national defense.
Drive Installation-Community Innovation at the Local Level
Our national security depends upon innovative solutions to key challenges, and that begins at the local level. We can incentivize new initiatives to break down barriers among the military, communities, and the private sector. Together we can:
- Develop installation-community innovation hubs that bring together local leaders from the military, community, academia, and private sector.
- Integrate defense communities into DOD innovation programs, such as AFWERX, the National Security Innovation Network (NSIN) and Defense Innovation Unit (DIU).
- Plan for the evolving expectations and capabilities of the defense sector workforce.
- Invest in defense workforce development initiatives (e.g., the Defense Manufacturing Communities Support Program).
Institutionalize the One Community Partnership Concept
When it comes to the big issues facing our military, service members, and their families, the fence line does not matter. Collaboration will help us:
- Institutionalize the “one community” concept by training installation leaders through professional development opportunities where they and their community counterparts can learn side-by-side about new installation management and partnership best practices and ideas.
- Strengthen installation-community partnership authorities including the Intergovernmental Support Agreement (IGSA) & the Enhanced Use Lease (EUL) programs.
- Develop clear and viable benchmarks for community and state spousal employment support and military child education standards. Provide resources and partnership opportunities to help communities achieve them.
- Address racism & equity in the communities our military calls home by listening to those who have experienced the impact of racism and inequality and how we can improve.
Invest in Infrastructure that Supports Missions and Families
Our military and our families rely on a complex network of roads, buildings, facilities, utilities, and land–both on and off base–to support critical training, power-projection platforms, and the everyday needs of our families. To prioritize investment in our nation’s defense infrastructure, we can:
- Expand the Defense Community Infrastructure Program (DCIP) to support both traditional community infrastructure and facilities that enhance quality of life.
- Promote sustained investment in our installations through a stable, robust military construction program that replenishes any redirected funds.
- Enhance the value of public-public (P4) and public-private partnerships (P3) to improve the efficiency and resilience of defense infrastructure.
- Strengthen the ongoing collaboration between military and community by supporting and enhancing the role of the DOD Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation (OLDCC).
Promote Climate Resilience for Installations and Communities
Sea level rise, extreme weather events, and other climate-related activities are impacting our installations, defense communities, and national security. We can coordinate a response across the fence line, regionally and nationally if we:
- Create a coordinating point within OSD to connect DoD and communities on climate change, ideally through the OLDCC.
- Continue funding and support for the Military Installation Sustainability (MIS) program.
- Embrace programs, including DCIP, which support joint installation-community climate resilience planning and infrastructure.
- Develop clear, quantifiable program benchmarks that provide a baseline measurement of DCIP and MIS program performance.
Defense Communities Caucus
Defined by a mission of force and family, readiness and resiliency, our installations and communities are the foundation of our military’s competitive edge. The strength of our bases and communities are forever linked through a dynamic and ever evolving partnership. The Defense Communities Caucus, a bipartisan group of lawmakers, provides a unified voice for that evolving partnership, and works to ensure that defense communities and military installations have the support they need to serve the ones who protect us.
Senate Caucus Co-Chairs
- Jerry Moran (R-KS)
- Gary Peters (D-MI)
House Caucus Co-Chairs
- Henry Cuellar (TX-28)
- Doug Lamborn (CO-05)
Federal Outreach and Advisory Council
Brittany Smart
Fairbanks North Star Borough, AK
Mike Ward
Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce, AL
Daniel Mann
Fort Chaffee Redevelopment Authority, AR
Ryan Lee
City of Glendale, AZ
Sandy Person
Solano EDC/ Travis Community Consortium, CA
Fred Muerer
Monterey Bay Defense Alliance, CA
Keith Klaehn
Defense Mission Task Force, CO
Daniel Rhoades
21st Century Partnership, GA
Vera Topasna
Office of the Governor of Guam, GU
Kimberly Huth
St. Clair County, IL
Jill McClune
Army Alliance, MD
Jamie Miller
Mississippi Development Authority, MS
Greg Doyon
Montana Defense Alliance/ City of Great Falls, MT
Patricia Harris
North Carolina Military Affairs Commission, NC
Tom Ford
Grand Forks County, ND
Brian Dicken
Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce, OH
Michael Gessel
Dayton Development Coalition, OH
Joseph Garrity
Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission
Mike Cooper
State of Oklahoma, OK
Keith Sledd
Heart of Texas Defense Alliance, TX
Diane Rath
Alamo Area Council of Governments, TX
Glenn Barham
Sheppard Military Affairs Committee, TX
Brian Garrett
Utah Department of Veterans and Military Affairs, UT
Mark Shepherd
Clearfield City, UT
Stacie Henn
Prince William County, Dept of Economic Development, VA
Rick Dwyer
Hampton Roads Military and Federal Facilities Alliance, VA
Don Anderson
City of Lakewood, WA
Alex Brickner
SBIR Programs, UMass Lowell Research Institute
John Simmons (COUNCIL ADVISOR)
Partner,
The Roosevelt Group
George Schlossberg (GENERAL COUNSEL)
ADC General Counsel
Partners, Kutak Rock LLP